The Involutionaries. Lessons From Half-Baked Britain. Is Saracasm a Superpower? The Secret Plan to Stop NATO Getting Bigger. Plus More! #190
Grüezi! I’m Adrian Monck – welcome!
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1️⃣ One Solution – Involution!
China is having an argument about the future of its economy.
You’ve heard of revolution, how about “involution”? It’s a Chinese buzzword that means burnout – a race to the bottom with diminishing returns.
But when it comes to China’s new hi-tech industries, is there an upside to involution?
Chinese social media is abuzz with two very different takes on where the country’s cutting edge sectors are headed.
🔄 1: ‘Involution’ is Paying Off
It’s Growing a Skilled Workforce: This intense competition, or ‘involution’, is creating a lot of skilled workers and engineers.
Ready to Take on the World: Chinese companies are gearing up to be big players on the global stage. They’ve got the skills and the competitive edge to outdo competitors worldwide.
There’s a Catch: Involution is tough on workers. They’re being pushed hard but not always getting the rewards they deserve. And even employers are finding it hard to make good profits.
🆚 2: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
All Strain, No Gain: This ultra-competitive race is wearing everyone out – employees and employers. Industries can’t run a marathon at a sprint.
Profitability Takes a Hit: Companies are trying so hard to stay ahead, they’re spending without thinking of the returns. It’s like you and me buying a new phone every month – expensive and not always worth it.
Switch Gears: Instead of ‘rats in a sack’ competition, how about a more balanced approach? Be innovative but think about long-term success and a more strategic approach.
💡 Two Sides, One Story. One says the hard grind is paying off, while the other says it’s time to ease off the gas for more sustainable growth.
🤔 What Do You Think? Where’s China’s industrial future headed? Share your thoughts below!
⏭ #ChinaBusiness #Innovation #SustainableGrowth #BusinessStrategy 🌏🔋🤔
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2️⃣ No Handshakes For Half-Baked Britain
And no Hollywood ending for penny-pinching your way to poverty.
The FT’s Martin Wolf may not have the eyes of an arctic fox but he’s the Paul Hollywood of economics commentators.
🍰Wolf has some harsh truths for his half-baked homeland, where there’s not enough cake to go round and – what there is – is not being evenly shared...
What went wrong?
🔄 Slowing Down in Getting Better at Producing Stuff: Once a powerhouse of industrial innovation, the UK has seen a concerning slowdown. Productivity growth was up just 7% from 2007 to 2021, compared with 33% the previous decade.
🌏 Global Positioning On The Slide: Britain’s median household incomes lag behind countries like Canada and Germany. Brits are falling behind folks they once thought of as financial equals.
⚖️ Inequality – The Silent Economic Divider: ‘Half-Baked Britain’ isn’t just about economic figures. Its “let them eat cake politics” is deeply rooted in inequality. Brits are a lot worse off than their neighbours. They face poor but pricy housing, long unreliable commutes to low-paid jobs, and a health system in permanent crisis.
🏙️ Different Cities, Different Economies: The economic landscape is uneven. The gap between London and other British cities like Manchester is more than a geographic issue – it’s an economic chasm that needs bridging for balanced national growth.
🚫 Inequality Does Not Equal Innovation: The belief that high inequality drives growth has not materialized in Britain. Instead, it has led to a younger generation witnessing stagnated progress, challenging the notion that inequality is a necessary evil for economic advancement.
🔨 Investment - The Missing Piece: A critical lesson is the need for robust investment, both public and private. It’s not just Martin. Everyone from Brexit-loving businessmen to left-of-centre thinktanks is in agreement.
British investment rates trail behind G7 counterparts, signalling a need for a strategic shift towards modernising the country’s infrastructure and innovation.
Your insights are crucial in this journey towards economic revival. Let me know how to fix #HalfBakedBritain in the comments.
⏭ #EconomicRevival #InclusiveGrowth #StrategicThinking #UKFuture 🌐📈🤝
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3️⃣ Bright Lights. Big City.
Big melting pot? Not so much.
🌆🔍 The Big City Illusion: We’ve long believed that large, densely populated cities are melting pots of diversity, where people from all walks of life interact seamlessly.
But, a groundbreaking analysis of 1.6 billion person-to-person encounters across the U.S. is challenging this myth!
🤯 Eye-Opening Findings: Contrary to popular belief, big cities are not the inclusive hubs we thought they were. Instead, they’re hotspots of extreme segregation.
This revelation is more than just a statistic; it’s a wake-up call for urban planners and society alike.
🌍 A Call for Change: It’s time to rethink our urban landscapes. This isn’t just about city planning; it’s about shaping the future of human interaction and community building.
We need strategic urban design that really fosters integrated, inclusive environments.
⏭ Link to Learn More: Nature.
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4️⃣ Unlock This Transformative Superpower...
Sarcasm. Yes.
An intriguing study challenges us to reconsider the role of sarcasm in our working lives. Let’s unpack this, especially for those of us who might find sarcasm more prickly than productive.
🤔 Sarcasm: A Tricky Tool in Communication - Sarcasm often walks a fine line between humour and discomfort. While it can be a witty way to convey a point, not everyone appreciates the sharp edge.
This study introduces the SHARP model, which suggests that sarcasm, when used carefully, can actually help in understanding different perspectives.
🔍 Understanding the SHARP Model - SHARP stands for Sarcasm Helps Activate Readiness for Perspective-taking. This model proposes that sarcasm, under the right conditions, can encourage us to think more deeply and be more open to others' viewpoints. However, it’s a delicate balance that requires sensitivity to how it's received.
👥 The Challenge with Sarcasm - Sarcasm can be a double-edged sword. It has the potential to clarify a speaker’s intent but can also lead to misunderstandings, especially if – like most of us – you’re not fond of sarcasm or find it off-putting.
🧠 Two Ways Sarcasm Can Help (or Hinder) Understanding:
1. Deliberate Processing: Sarcasm can make us pause and think more critically about the message.
2. Open-Mindedness: It might open us up to new perspectives, but only if it doesn't cross the line into being perceived as offensive.
🔄 Context Matters - The effectiveness of sarcasm depends heavily on the speaker's intention, the listener’s mindset, and the nature of their relationship. A sarcastic remark might be enlightening in one context but could be – well – ‘misinterpreted’ in another.
💡 A Note for Professionals - In our working lives, understanding the nuanced role of sarcasm is crucial. It’s not just about being witty; it’s about ensuring our communication builds understanding rather than barriers.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts. How do you navigate the use of sarcasm in your professional interactions, especially considering that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea?
⏭ #EffectiveCommunication #WorkplaceDynamics #SarcasmInWorkplace #ProfessionalGrowth 🌟🗣️👥
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5️⃣ How Putin’s People Do Disinformation
🌍🔍 It’s not just viral posts and trolling... 🔍🌍
🚨 Breaking Intelligence Insights: A confidential report obtained by Finnish journalists unveils a startling strategy by Russian intelligence to disrupt Finland and Sweden’s plans to join NATO.
🕵️♂️ The Plot Thickens: Russia’s intelligence service, in a clandestine move, planned harassment campaigns masquerading as protests against NATO membership. The revelation comes from a leaked memo by a Russian intelligence officer and it sheds light on the intricate tactics of international espionage.
📢 Stirring the Pot: Both countries needed Turkey’s support to get into the defence alliance. Russia’s strategy? Foment anti-Turkish and Islamaphobic outrages to sour relations between Turkey, European nations, and NATO.
🎭 A Campaign in Disguise: Tactics included organizing anti-Turkey demonstrations and spreading graffiti.
“You don’t need a lot of money or equipment... With little effort, you can spread misleading information and make anyone, anywhere question reality,” says reporter Ilja Roždestvenski.
🌐 A Global Game: This isn’t just about Finland or Sweden. It’s a global story of power, influence, and the shadowy world of corrupting debate in free societies.
🔥 The Bigger Picture: Last month French security services suspected Russian influence behind Stars Of David being graffiti-ed on walls. This seems straight out of the same playbook.
How do such covert operations impact global stability, how can we protect ourselves and what does it mean for the future of international security?
⏭ #Geopolitics #NATO #Intelligence #GlobalSecurity #Russia
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6️⃣ This Health Hack Could Save Your Life
It will make your food taste a bit ‘meh’ though.
⏭ Less salt can cut your risk of diabetes.
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7️⃣ Anti-social. Chlamydia-carrying. Cute?
Yes, Koalas aren’t even bears but the world loves them.
⏭ Learn more about the little poison leaf eaters here.
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If you enjoy this newsletter – please recommend it!
Best,
Adrian
